Episode Summary

Justin is furious with Michael for breaking their agreement and telling Brian that they know he's sick. Brian has thrown Justin out and doesn't want to see him again; Justin is at first fine with this decision, but when Justin finds out that it's because Brian doesn't want him to see him sick, Justin goes to the loft to take care of him. Justin plans to stand by Brian and their commitment. Michael receives two checks for ten thousand dollars each for he and Justin; Brett Keller has officially optioned to make Rage a feature film. At the same time, a rejection letter arrives for Ben from a publisher who seemed interested in his latest book. In an attempt to lift his spirits, Michael buys Ben a new computer but Ben refuses Michael's consolation prize. Emmett caters pro football player Drew Boyd's engagement party. When the macho athlete calls Emmett a flamer behind his back, Emmett confronts him. The following day, however, when Emmett arrives to pick up his check, he finds hunky Drew alone. The attraction between the two is undeniable, and they find themselves in the beginnings of a very steamy affair. Brian is suffering from the side effects of his radiation treatment. Unable to deny his situation to Ted, who finds him sick and exhausted in his office, Brian asks him to cover for him at a presentation to a potential new client. Ted nervously pitches the sexy, playful campaign, yet finds himself sinking fast. However, when the flirtatious young exec from the company suggestively asks Ted to point him to the men's room, Ted follows him in and effortlessly "nails" the account. Sam Auerbach enters the gallery as Lindsay is unwrapping pieces for his show. When Sam spots the painting she's done of him she becomes flustered but he thinks it's great. She tells him he was the inspiration

Justin and Brian are Perfect

Loved the development of Brian's character in this episode and his relationship with Justin. I see issues arising involving Ben and Lindsay but hopefully their story lines will work out - overall such a strong episode and this show gets better and better, even after several seasons.

Brian starts radiation as Justin deals with being thrown out. Michael tries to talk sense into Brian. Emmett finds a new partner and hooks up with someone else. Deb wants to try things with Carl again. Linze treads dangerous ground with Sam. Ben is mad.moreless

Brian is undergoing radiation and is starting to feel the aftermath of it. He leaves Ted to take care of things at the office while he is gone. Ted gets a taste of what it is like to be Brian when he follows one of the guys they were pitching an ad to, to the men's room and they have a good time. The next day Ted sends Brian home and i had to ask myself if it was because he cares, because he wants to be Brian some more, or a little of both. Brian goes home to find Justin there, after Mike had talked some sense into Justin when it wouldn't work on Brian. They shove each other which lands Brian on the ground. Justin tells him off and tells him that he is not going anywhere, then sends him to bed to eat soup. When Brian doesn't protest anymore, i assume Justin will be there to stay again. Yay for sunshine! In the meantime Justin and Mike each get a check for ten thousand dollars from Mr. Keller. Ben continues to act like a baby because they are successful and no one likes his book, as he just got one more rejection letter from another publisher. Mike buys a new computer for Ben but he rejects it. A former student of his brings flattery because he likes Ben's books. His name is Anthony. When Ben takes off to his office after announcing he was going to stop writing, Anthony shows up. The two have been hanging out to discuss Ben's work even though Ben usually doesn't get involved with students or former students. I think this looks like dangerous ground for Mike and Ben. On the other hand Sam shows up at the gallery to check out Linze's painting of him. They have a bit of a friendly conversation that may have given him a wrong impression. Later when she is almost taken out by a painting, she falls into his arms, and we discover that she was shaking. What the heck is going on with you Linze, and what's going on with you and Sam? This could be possible trouble for Linze and Mel as well, which would be bad timing what with Mike attending breathing class with Mel. Emmett finds out Darren can cook and winds up using him to help with a party for a pro football player. When the pro makes a comment a bout those two being flamers, i said to myself "watch him like men as well." Turns out i was right. Emmett shows up later to collect his check and the man puts the moves on him, and they wind up sleeping together. Finally, Debbie goes to rekindle things with Carl now that she's had some time to deal with Vic's death, so she says she will take him up on his offer for dinner again. However, she is heartbroken when she learns that Carl has been seeing some woman by the name of Catherine, and fears that Carl is gone for good. This was a good episode and i can't wait to see what happens next.moreless

Brian's no longer perfect... like he ever was though.

Brian gets even more complexed than we ever thought in this episode. He assumes that Justin will leave him now that he is no longer perfect. Due to all his character flaws, he's always been far from perfect though. Justin reaches out and tries to mend things between them, but Brian continues to push him away. Justin stays subborn though and doesn't back down. He shows up at Brian's loft, refusing to leave. He reminds him that just because he got a testicle removed, that's no reason to leave him. Brian realizes that Justin truly cares about him, and backs down. We really see yet another complex layer of Brian that hasn't been seen yet. Amazing episode.moreless

We delve deeper into the mind of Brian Kinney.

Though it may seem heartless that Brian kicked Justin out of his life for knowing that he has cancer, it does make perfect sense if you understand Brian's character. Brian prides himself on being immaculate in every aspect of his life, and it is a big part of the reason why he thinks Justin loves him so much. But it is obvious that Brian still has so much to learn about Justin's love for him. Justin loves Brian for his imperfections, not in spite of them. I think from the very beginning Justin saw through Brian's mask of perfection and somewhat abrasive personality. Justin knew there was something more to him, and he was right.When Brian's perfect image was shattered, he therefore became afraid that his spell over Justin would end. Brian has come to love Justin so much that, once he discovered that Justin knew he had cancer, he thought that he had lost Justin for good. So, rather than risk the pain of growing to love and care for Justin any more than he already has--and then have Justin leave him--he thought he'd try to spare himself any more grief by ending it with Justin right away. That's why Brian only pushes away Justin, and no one else. Brian pushes away the person he loves the most because he can't stand the thought of losing him later on, when he believes Justin will grow tired of him and begin to not love him anymore.Now if that isn't true love on Brian's part, then I definitely have no clue what love is. But I like to think I do!Anyway, Justin puts Brian's fears to rest when he declares his committment to Brian, no matter what. You can see Brian ease up after Justin says this. Brian just needed reassurance. He never wanted to be rid of Justin. In fact, he wants Justin by his side more than words can express. He just needed to know that Justin's love for him isn't based on his being perfect.moreless

Take away all Brian Kinney is and what do you have left.

Once again Sunshine and Mikey butt heads, over Brian once again, though it's more revealing that infuriating this time around. Justin is pretty much fine with Brian kicking him out of his life for no good reason after a few failed attempts of trying to reconcile with him but Michael is more then willing to provide the real explination as to why Brian doesn't want Justin around him. Take away all Brian Kinney is. The youth, the beauty, the sex and what do you have left. Just a man who is pretty much walking in deaths territory, who now suddenly see's himself as imperfect. I understand where is coming from, for once, as really Brian shows the world his perfection and puts all his stock in that. If he is imperfect is shatters his entire self image, who he is. But that Brian would think Justin would leave him because he is sick. I mean there have been reasons he has left in the past, reasons he will leave in the future, and there are many good reasons why he should and could leave to think that he would leave him because Brian is sick is rediculous. If anything it would only make Justin stand by him with even more passion.And Sunshine, being the true and loyal partner that he is more then pushes his way back into Brian's life. He does not take Brian's logic for an answer standing by him and their relationship with great force, and heck he reaches Brian so that has got to be great force that he was packing. On another note, seeing Brian deal with the affects of his cancer and radiation treatment is very hard to watch. Dealing with vomitting and all matters of sickness Gale Harold really plays a particular scene well, Ted's discovery of Brian's cancer. They keep it so right on the mark that you forget you are watching two actors and not to real people, a frequent thought I have while watching this show.moreless

Ted: I just want you to know that you can trust me. As a friend and as someone who has been through it all, I mean there is nothing I haven't seen or done which is why I don't presume to judge anyone. But there is one thing I know, the first and the hardest step you will ever have to take is admitting you have a problem. Once you have done that, you are on the road to recovery.

Brian: It's the big "C", Ted.

Ted: Cocaine?

Brian: (laughing) It's bigger.

Ted: Crystal?

Brian: Bigger.

Ted: Caffeine?

Brian: It's cancer, Theodore.

Ted: (stammers) Ca..cuh...cah.

Brian: Yeah. Relax, they got it. I am in radiation. Started this morning.

Justin: You're not alright.Brian: Then what the hell are you asking me for???Justin: So that I can tell you what a mother fucking piece of sh*t you are for not telling me! For shutting me out. For thinking that you could handle this on your own. And most of all, for thinking that I would leave you. Why would you think that? Cause you had a ball removed? Cause you're no longer perfect? Well, believe me, Mr. Kinney, that is the least of your imperfections. And if I'd wanted to leave you, I've had better reasons. Plenty of them.Brian: Maybe you should have.Justin: Yeah, maybe you're right. But I thought we had a commitment and I plan to stand by it. Now why don't you get your ass back in bed, you son of a b*tch, and eat some f***ing chicken soup.

Hunter: Speaking of dreams, this came too. It's from Greenpoint Press.Michael: Well, you can't open someone else's mail. It's a federal offense.Hunter: I can see it now. I'm on death row, awaiting a lethal injection. This mass murderer who killed 48 babies and ate them asks me what I'm being executed for. I say, "Opening Ben's letter."

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